Mike Takes Four on Second Day

Ben Mike took four wickets in six overs, but Middlesex built a commanding lead on the second day at Lord’s.

A Mark Stoneman century provided the platform for the hosts, who finished 370 all out, before reducing Leicestershire to 37-3 at the close.

Chris Wright picked up the first of the morning, having Middlesex skipper Peter Handscomb caught behind by Harry Swindells for 27.

It was the culmination of an interesting battle between the two, with the Australian hitting the Running Foxes’ talisman for 16 off his opening over of the day, while Wright twice thought he had his man.

Those two earlier lives came as Wright almost had Handscomb caught behind by Kimber, before the former was convinced he’d trapped the home captain LBW, only to see the umpire remain unmoved.

A second loud appeal was turned down not long after, as Stoneman was almost strangled down the leg side attempting to sweep Callum Parkinson on 99.

The Middlesex opener wasn’t to be denied his landmark, bringing up his ton with a single off Mulder in the next over.

Parkinson then took his first wicket, bowling Max Holden for 16. The Middlesex batsman attempting to use his feet to meet the pitch of the ball, but ended up diverting the ball onto his stumps.

Stoneman flirted with danger, edging through a gap in the cordon to earn a narrow escape. But he did eventually fall, a plumb LBW dismissal to Parkinson, as he looked to pull to leg off the back foot.

30 runs were added before lunch fell with the score reading 248-5.

John Simpson and Luke Hollman looked unflustered post-restart, reaching their 100 partnership in just over 32 overs together.

It was looking like a wicketless session for Leicestershire until Mike came on for his first bowl of the innings to strike twice before tea.

The Running Foxes all-rounder had to be patient, waiting 97 overs before he was given an opportunity, but he made an instant impact, yorking Hollman for 45.

A second followed in quick time. The other set batsman, Simpson, edging behind to Kimber at second slip on 71. Tea taken with the score showing 342-7.

Mike continued where left off before the interval, striking first ball after the resumption to remove Toby Roland-Jones, who pulled a short ball straight to Parkinson at long leg.

A third bowling point was earned shortly after, as Mike had Ethan Bamber caught at first slip by Hassan Azad. Four wickets within six overs for Mike.

He didn’t have it all his own way though, putting down a spiraling catch off Wright to give Shaheen Afridi a second chance. But Mike redeemed himself with a carbon copy of that chance, safely pouching a similar steepler on the second occasion. Middlesex 370 all out, leading by 221.

The Running Foxes’ second innings got off to a disastrous start. Azad (2) and Ackermann (0) both fell to Afridi in the same over to leave Leicestershire 2-2.

Sam Evans got off the mark with back-to-back boundaries, driving Roland-Jones through the off side on both occasions.

Louis Kimber (3) became the third early wicket to go down, as Bamber breached his defences to send the off-stump cartwheeling.

Evans looked in solid touch, moving to 23 off 29 balls, before an early close arrived. Bad light forcing the umpires to remove the players from the field with the score on 37-3. Wiaan Mulder 5 not out.

Play resumes tomorrow at 11am.